In two blog entries earlier this year I discussed the emergence of the Medical Home concept in health care. I mentioned back then that I felt the issue was one worth keeping an eye on because it was beginning to build a lot of momentum. An article I read recently week suggests that the idea has permeated the mainstream and that it is generating quantifiable results even faster than I had anticipated.  

I think it’s worth reiterating what I wrote in the earlier blogs about the Medical Home being an outstanding opportunity for health IT. In short, the Medical Home relies on a primary care physician to oversee and coordinate all of an individual’s care. The thinking is that by being the lead physician on a medical “team” of sorts, the primary doc can help streamline care: fewer unnecessary tests, more open communication with other providers, less waste, better care quality, improved outcomes and so on. There are any number of technical systems already in existence to help facilitate the communication necessary for the Medical Home to work optimally. And we can by all means work closely with Medical Home initiatives to customize these technologies and/or to design new ones as needs dictate going forward.  

It’s definitely good to see the Medical Home concept gaining momentum, because it’s a really good idea. With the proper involvement of technology, we can make it an even better one.